Flat 6, 9 Gay Street, City Centre, Bath

9 Gay Street forms part of a Grade I mid-18th century terrace of townhouses, with several dwellings with commercial/office ground floors, situated within the Bath conservation area and World Heritage Site. It forms the indicative setting of a high concentration of Grade I and Grade II segments of 18th century terrace up Gay Street. It remains a significant aspect of Bath’s monumental architecture and Georgian Town Planning OUV that provides direct views between the Grade I The Circus and the Grade I Queen Square. Significantly, the terrace’s rear elevation forms part of the indicative townscape setting of the Grade I Royal Victoria Park, a late Georgian example of a municipal park, and its pedestrian access via an original Georgian promenade known as the Gravel Walk. Mid-range views across the back of the terrace set back in its gardens are publicly visible, and reveal the varied backland character of this area of the conservation area defined by the architectural variety and narrative of change readable across the rear of its historic terraced townhouses. The terrace has been subject to later alterations which has subsequently resulted in a mix of sash fenestration styles across both the principal and rear elevations; 9 Gay Street features a consistent one-over-one sash window style which is more indicative of later Victorian alterations.

We note that the proposed front and rear dormers are not original to the building and are in poor condition and the principle of replacement is therefore acceptable and necessary.

In light of the current Climate Emergency, BPT feels this could be a positive opportunity for the integration of slimlite glazing without the loss of historic glazing. The existing dormer windows are tucked into the roof behind the parapet, and are therefore more visually discreet within public views than the more visually significant examples of glazing within the main body of the building. BPT has previously encouraged similar opportunities for energy retrofits at 7 Duke Street (19/04678/LBA) and 3 Lansdown Place East (20/00024/LBA).

The use of slimlite glazing would therefore improve the building’s thermal and acoustic performance with limited harm to the special architectural and historic interest of a listed building.